Please keep these new works in your prayers this coming year. As we have mentioned before, new works are, by definition, more fragile than long-term works. We have added the names of the pastors or lay-leaders of these works, so you might pray for them by name.

1. Los Limones. This work was begun as a direct result of the Human Needs project directed to sufferers from Hurricane Stan in October, 2005. It is sponsored and supported by First Baptist Church, San Marcos, and its pastor, Santiago Rosales. Young lay leader, Bernabe Escalante, is the appointed leader of this work. Every weekend, members of FBC-San Marcos take the several hours trip, one-way, to Los Limones to work with the new congregation mission, which they have named "Misión Samaria".

2. Uspantán and Its Two Missions. The mother work, only two years old, is growing rapidly, and now has approximately 400 members. It is named "The Family of God", and led by dynamic pastor Boanerges Rivera. Special prayer is requested as Boanerges builds a strong leadership base. To help in that end, Roger began a branch of the Joshua Quiché Bible Institute held in the church every Wednesday evening. In Roger's absence, Miguel Angel Cajas and Narciso Poz, helped by missionaries Keith Stamps and Alan Lyons, will continue the Institute in order to train the new leaders in doctrine and church growth. The two missions have approximately sixty members each, and are led by leaders in the mother church.

3. Cojxac. This young work, is led by young leader José Caniz, and has as its membership approximately 15 young adults and 25 children. It is named "El Nuevo Pacto". A couple of the young men, Luis and Marco Yax, will be working in the new mission in Rancho de Teja.

4. Chivarreto. This young work, known as "Chivarreto Baptist Church" began approximately two years of age, in a village which has a population of approximately 10,000 people. Roger and Vicki have led the Thursday night services for the last two years, and began leading the mostly children's work on Sunday afternoons when the Hoovers went on Stateside Assignment a year ago. They have been helped by Quiché missionaries Jorge and Julia Poz and Priscila Yac, who have led out in the women's group on Wednesday afternoons and a Kid's Club on Thursday afternoons, as well as helped with the Thursday evening church services. When we left on Stateside Assignment, Jorge and the team will cover the Thursday evening and Sunday afternoon services until the Hoovers return from the US. Pray for lay leaders Joel and Catarina, that the Lord would continue to bless and use them as they lead out in this new work.

5. Rancho de Teja. The new mission, known as "Arca de Salvación", is led on Sunday mornings by lay leaders Victor Argueta and Narciso Poz, along with Roger and Vicki. This new work was started as a result of a very successful women's group that has met on Tuesday afternoons for two years, and led by the Vicki, Jorge and Julia Poz, and Priscila Yac. In our absence, Luis and Marco Yax of El Nuevo Pacto Baptist Church, will be coming on Friday afternoons and spending the night, working with youth. Marcelino Agustin and Elvin and Angela Par will come to Rancho de Teja on Saturday afternoons and spend the night, working with young couples and assisting Victor and Narciso with the Sunday morning services.

6. San Ramón. This new mission, known as "The Prayer House" is led by lay leader Gustavo Camacho, and meets on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday afternoons, with approximately twelve adults and their children attending. A new women's group was started a few months ago, and meets on Monday afternoons with the help of the Quiché Core Team.

7. Chuicavioc. This new church, known as "Vid Verdadera", is led by co-pastors Enrique Coyoy and Marcelino Agustin, and is growing. There are now approximately sixty adults attending, along with twenty to twenty-five children. The new church is leading out in a concerted way in new mission starts. Marcelino, and several others, have been consistent in going with Roger on Tuesday afternoons and evenings to visit in Rancho de Teja and Chivarreto new mission starts. In our absence, Marcelino, Elvin, and Angela will be spending part of every weekend in Rancho de Teja in order to help stabilize that new work.

8. Uspantan. This struggling new mission, right outside of Uspantán in a poorer area, is led by Francisco Castro, who is a member of the Joshua Quiché Bible Institute. Pray for Francisco, that the Lord would bless his efforts for Him, and that many would come to know the Lord through this mission.

Team from Missouri, led by Vicki's brother, Ben

Vicki's brother, Ben, and sister-in-law, Ruth, led a team from June 16-23 to repair the two little adobe houses that we are renting to use as the new mission, and build a latrine on the property. (The adobe houses will be used as the meeting place for the women's and children's groups on Tuesday afternoons, and Bible studies and church services on the weekends.) In addition, the little houses will be used as housing for the young leaders who will be spending Friday and Saturday nights in Rancho de Teja in order to grow that work.

Roger and Vicki led several team members, along with Jorge Poz, and friend Santos, to plant 2000 cedar trees in a reforestation effort.

The rehabilitation of these houses, and the reforestation project, is shown on the photo gallery website mentioned earlier. It also shows the "before" and "after" photos of the adobe houses, as well as the two united church services that were held on June 10 and 16.

This team did a tremendous job on rehabilitating these houses and in reforestation, and it was not easy work. We are thankful for their faithfulness in leading out in these volunteer mission efforts.

Go Team to Uspantán the First Week of June, led by Larry and Sarah Plyler

We are thankful for the fine work that Larry and Sarah Plyler and the teams they have led in different Qucihé areas. In early June, Larry and Sarah led a team to "The Family of God", Uspantán, to work with church members in evangelism of their town and surrounding areas. The team was a great success, and we are thankful for Larry and Sarah's work in this town.

San Cristobal

We are currently visiting and investigating possibilities of starting a new Bible Study in the town of San Cristobal. Please pray as we look for the "man of peace" in this town. Pray that we can begin new Bible studies in this town, and that many will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus through this effort.

Association of Churches

This Saturday will be the next meeting of the Association of Churches at 2:00 p.m. The statutes of the Association have been written and approved by leadership, and will be presented to the general body. Please pray for unity and determination among this group to reach more Quiché for the Kingdom. Please pray for the leaders: Narciso Poz, Roger Grossmann, Victor Argueta, and Priscila Yac.

Joshua Quiché Bible Institute-3 branches

Please keep this important institute in your prayers. It currently meets in Chicua I, Quetzaltenango, and Uspantán. Pray that the Lord would use this ministry to develop and guide pastors and leaders. Pray that the Institute would grow in each area. Pray for Narciso Poz and Miguel Angel Cajas, as they lead out in this effort, under Roger's collaboration and leadership.

Thank you, again, for your prayers. We ask your continued prayers for all of the members of the Quiché Core Team, and thank you for your faithfulness over the years. We will continue to keep you posted and informed, even as we are away, physically.

Yours in Him, 

Joe and JaDonna Hoover

Jorge and Julia Poz

Priscila Yac

Dear Family and Friends,

Thank you so much for your prayers for the work here among the Quiché. We cherish each one of you, and hope you had a blessed Easter. We want to share with you some praises and requests that greatly need your prayer support. Thank you for bringing these before your churches, Sunday Schools, and prayer groups.

This past week, Holy Week, the fourth annual Quiché Youth Congress was held. There were sixty-four in attendance, representing nine churches. The theme was "Thinking Like Jesus", using the "Mind of Christ" materials. Small group sessions covered important topics such as "Abstinence in a Fallen World", "Improving Music and Writing Praise Songs", "What to do when Others Treat You Bad", and "Marriage: Finding a Godly Spouse". Youth leaders, Marco, Luis, Jorge, and Priscila directed much of the camp's daily activities, including music, and did an incredible job.

Upon arrival, the youth were mixed up into color-coded groups, in an effort to break down church groups and cliques. These groups elected their own leaders, and many activities were undertaken in these groups, including the Grand Mountain Search, which was held all day on Friday. This team-building opportunity was replete with lessons about living the life God wants for each of His followers. The youth were given a satellite map and told that following this map, while on their search through the mountains overlooking beautiful Lake Atítlan, was imperative to avoid getting lost. They were also told that in life we need to follow the map God has given us, the Bible, so that we may not lose our way in the bigger race. The youth teams searched for Scripture verses which they then had to memorize, but were warned that speed was not the primary objective, but rather, performing well throughout the course, and day. Team leaders were instructed to watch and care for their respective team members, putting them first, in all aspects. Adult leaders, including Roger and Vicki, Jason Mackey, Joe Hoover, Carolynn Amen, Efraín Juárez, and Jorge Poz were posted in strategic areas of the mountain to supervise and help the teams as they came through, as well as listen to the verses memorized by team members. Following the mountain run, the youth then had to go to key areas in the village of Sololá and have their participation noted by willing inhabitants. Finally, they were rewarded with ice cream at their last outpost.

During the closing ceremony, five youth gave their lives to full-time Christian service. Please pray for these youth. Pray, too, for the youth who helped lead this year's youth congress: Jorge, Priscila, Luis, Marco, Bernabé, José, and Lesli. Pray that God would continue to use these special young people, and give them Divine wisdom. 

A week ago, we worked with a team from First Baptist Church-Ellisville, Missouri, led by Russ Ewing, in the town of San Marcos. The team worked to build playground equipment for the church, held classes for women and children, went door-to-door evangelizing with church members, and sponsored a youth event. As a result, several people have already been added to the church, and a larger number of people have expressed interest in the church and attended some of the services. The church was encouraged to improve children and youth ministries, and to begin a women's group based on Bible storying, along with health, cooking, and nutrition classes.

Please pray for pastor Santiago Rosales and his precious congregation, who want so much to reach San Marcos and outlying areas for the Lord. Santiago now has ten adolescents and ten shoe shine boys (this was highlighted a couple of months ago) living in the pastor's house on the property. These adolescents and young boys come from extremely poor families, and Santiago is feeding, clothing, and helping them go to school. Pray for these young people that they might all come to know the Lord Jesus, and be discipled into strong believers.

We have had very good attendance on Sunday mornings in the new mission congregation that has begun out of the women's group in this area of the village of Rancho de Teja. We are now looking for a house to rent to expand further and have recognition as a new church. The women are actively looking for an abandoned house in the immediate area that will serve as the new church, as well as house the women's and children's groups and mobile clinic. Pray that we would have the Lord's wisdom in this most important matter.

Please continue to pray for these special women and their families. Pray that each one would be discipled into a strong believer. Pray for the husbands and children of these women that they would come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus.

We rejoice that we now have 37 students in the three branches: Quetzaltenango, Chicua I, and Uspantán. The classes are very pragmatic and directed toward the needs of rural pastors and leaders. Pray that this Institute would make a dramatic difference in the leadership of churches throughout the Quiché areas. Pray for Roger, Narciso, and Miguel, that the Lord would give them divine wisdom and safety as they travel to each of these areas weekly to give classes. Classes meet on Saturday afternoons in Quetzaltenango, Wednesday mornings in Chicua I, and Wednesday evenings in Uspantán.

We have been recently contacted by two men, in different states in the US, who are working with Quiché people in evangelistic efforts. Please pray for these two men and their groups that many Quiché would come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus and be discipled into strong, vibrant believers. We were thankful that these men contacted us. If you know of similar outreach efforts, please let us know. We would be glad to send materials to anyone working with Quiché people.

As we have written you earlier, we have asked Larry Plyler, Strategy Coordinator for the Operation Go teams in Guatemala, to send teams to selected Quiché areas. One of these teams will be working in Chivarreto this coming week. Pray that people who do not, yet, know the Lord would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus this coming week, and be discipled into strong believers. Pray that many more will be added to small mission at the home of Catarina and Joel.

As always, we ask you to remember the new works in different villages. These works are fragile, and have as their membership brand-new believers. Please bathe these new works in your daily prayers, and whenever the Lord brings them to your mind:

Los Limones, founded out of the relief efforts of Hurricane Stan, led by lay pastor and young man, Bernabé.

Chivarreto, church services Thursday evening and Sunday afternoon, women's group on Wednesday afternoon and Children's group on Thursday afternoon. Roger leads this group on Thursday and Sundays.

Chi Utuy, church services on Sunday a.m., women's and children's groups on Tuesday afternoon. Led by Narciso, Victor, and Roger.

San Ramón, church services Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Lay pastor Gustavo.

Uspantán. Rapidly growing group led by pastor Boanerges.

Please pray for these special people who are suffering from serious health problems. Pray that the Lord would intervene in their care, and that He would give wisdom and direction to the health care personnel who are caring for them:

F, the cousin of Quiché missionary Priscila, has a serious medical problem. F. is nine years old, and has had several crisis in the last few days, putting her into the ICU. Her physicians will be moving her to the Capital when she stabilizes for a major surgery, that will hopefully, save her life. F has been suffering with this health problem for two years, and her faith is amazing. Pray for her and her family.

C, a young K´ekchi´ man has been known to us for a number of years. He had surgery about 10 years ago to repair a congenital problem, but in the last few weeks has developed kidney failure. He will now have to undergo dialysis for the rest of his life. He is very poor, has little formal education, and does not speak Spanish as his first language. Because of this, he does not always understand medical instructions. He is learning to perform his own peritoneal dialysis. Pray for C, that his physicians will have great wisdom and care for him. Pray that he would have the peace of God in his life. Pray that his family would understand his need for help.

Thank you, again, for your prayers for these requests. Truly, you are part of our team, and we thank the Lord for your faithfulness in lifting these petitions to the Father. We have new pictures, and will be sending them to our friend, Chuck, to update them on the photo gallery section of the website.

Our best to each one of you,

The Quiché Core Team

Roger and Vicki Grossmann
Joe and JaDonna Hoover
Jorge and Julia Poz
Priscila Yac